M A I N   N E W S

2 Punjab XENs suspended
Flaws in MIMIT complex
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — After dithering over a month, the Punjab Urban Development Department has placed under suspension two executive engineers and ordered repatriation of a Superintending Engineer (SE) to his parent Public Works Department (PWD). These engineers were associated with the construction of the Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology ( MIMIT).

Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Urban Development, told TNS here late this evening that the PWD had been told to suspend the S.E. The latter was on deputation with the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) which was entrusted with the job as constructing the MIMIT complex by the state government. Mr Balian said he had got investigated the alleged construction scandal pertaining to MIMIT buildings, certain parts of which had been declared unsafe following detection of deflection in certain pillars and roofs. He had submitted the preliminary inquiry report to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on May 24 and the final report was submitted later in July with the recommendation that action against certain engineers, the National Building Construction Corporation and others be taken. Mr Badal had forwarded the inquiry report to PUDA. However, the authorities concerned were not satisfied with the inquiry report submitted by Mr Balian and it was virtually thrown into the dustbin. A fresh inquiry was got conducted from experts of Roorkie University.

Mr Balian had got the inquiry conducted with the help of private experts to maintain secrecy as he feared that official laboratories could be persuaded to give a report in favour of those involved in the construction scandal.

Mr Balian found several technical and official flaws while conducting the inquiry. In fact, according to Mr Balian, the officers concerned had not visualised that the design of the building was faulty and such a heavy structure would not be able to sustain with the quantum of material recommended for use in the structure by those involved in its designing.

During the course of inquiry, Mr Balian got the impression that certain senior officers had become active to stonewall his efforts in finding the guilty.

He not only recommended suspension but also recovery of the amount spent on the building from the” guilty engineers and others concerned associated with the construction work. He was convinced that the state had suffered a big financial loss because of gross negligence and carelessness used in handling a prestigious project like the MIMIT.

Mr Balian said he had got information that Roorkie University experts had refused to declare the MIMIT buildings concerned safe even after carrying out reinforcement work recommended by them to stabilise the buildings. The experts had told the officials concerned that they would re-inspect the buildings after the execution of the reinforcement work.